A Review of Modelling Methods for Manufacturing as a Service – Case Additive Manufacturing

Manufacturing as a Service (MAAS) is a promising business model, especially with relatively new technologies such as cloud computing, data integration and digital twins. The article presents the characteristics of MAAS by comparing it to the characteristics of successful Software as a Service (SAAS) solution, which is open, modular, and standardized. It also describes the product, production and network data that MAAS requires to be modelled, managed and shared as a requirement for data modelling. In particular, it focuses on the modelling of product, processes and resources. Among the modelling methods, visual product-process models, matrix methods used to describe system structures, general graphical methods and methods used in system dynamics are briefly discussed. The expressive power of the methods is taken into account, and they are grouped into qualitative and quantitative modelling methods. A case study on metal additive manufacturing is presented, resulting in a generalized model of a key part of the process. The case study results with a model on how the external and internal and output parameters of melt pool influence on the output economic, quality and environmental impact characteristics. Finally, the ability of the modelling methods, the case and the MAAS features are compared. As the model is a tool for interaction between different actors and it needs to be maintained, it is concluded that qualitative and quantitative methods need to be integrated in the case of MAAS.